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(NoModeL) T. M. JENKINS. 4 WAGON AXLE. N0. 295,404. Patented Mar 18, 1884.

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UNITE STATES THOMAS M. JENKINS, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND 'W'ILLIAM UHLEMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

WAGON-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,404, dated March 18, 1884..

Application filed December 9.9, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tuonas M. JENKINS, of Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon-Axles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,

to which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to trusses or strengthening-plates for the axles of vehicles; and it has for its object to produce a device which shall be simple in construction, and which shall I 5 guard with equal efficiency against such disturbances to the load as obviously occur when ruts or lllllOCliS are encountered, and against such obstructions as are caused by stones, stumps, or other unexpected obstacles upon the road.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a bottom view of the front axle of a vehicle and the hounds of the same equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of one end of the front axle having my invention attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the species of my improved truss which is designed especially for the front axles of vehicles. Fig. 4 is a view of the same as designed more especially for the rear axles, and Fig. 5 is a crosssection of one of my improved trusses.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figu res.

In the drawingshereto annexed, A refers to the truss which is especially designed for the front axle. This truss comprises a flat iron plate formed, preferably, of malleable or wrought iron, and provided on its under side 4.0 with longitudinal flanges B B, which serve to strengthen the said truss-plate. The ends of the truss'plate A are provided with outwardlyextending brackets G G, which are designed and adapted to fit into corresponding recesses, D D, in the annular flanges E, at the inner ends 5 of the thimble-skeins,'whichare designated by the letter F. The recesses D D are surrounded by strengthening-flanges K K, which serve to strengthen the said recesses against any strain which might otherwise cause the skeins to break. My improved truss-plates are provided between their flanges with slots or openings G, which are merely for the purpose of lightening the said plates. The plate which is designed for the rear axle has openings or slots of greater length, as will be seen, while, on the other hand, the flanges of the front axle are provided with notches N, to receive the trusses T, which serve to connect the front and rear ends of the hounds.

This invention is simple in the extreme, and its advantages cannot fail to be appreciated by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a wooden axle, of a truss consisting of a flat plate, A, having flanges B B, slots G, and brackets O, the skeins F, having flanges E, notches D, and flanges K, and suitable connecting-clips, as set forth. 7o

2. The truss-plate A, having openings G, brackets O, and flanges B, provided with notches N, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. JENKINS.

Witnesses:

W. J. ENTRIKIN, WM. UHLMANN. 

